In situ fence top rail free end bender

ABSTRACT

A bender actuated by a cable jack is disclosed for bending the free end of fence metal top rail that is already supported on at least two supports or posts. The free end of the fence top rail can be bent to the exact amount desired and in the desired place from the last supporting post to the next post in position, and which will at the same time maintain the bent free end in the desired or same plane with the preceding portions of the top rail. Once in position, this bender is self-supporting on the fence, which is particularly desirable when installing high fences from a ladder.

O United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,875,783 Proof Apr. 8, 1975 15 IN SlTU FENCE TOP RAIL FREE END 3.5911 23 7/1971 Hunnicutt n 72/705 BENDER [76] inventor: Carroll L. Proof, l l l Sheruzed pmlmlry Limham Blvd 0pa Lock. Fm 33054 Ass/stun! E.\ammer-Qene P. Crosby Arm/71c Agent. or F1rmGustave Miller [22] Filed: Aug. 26. 1974 l H pp 500,358 1571 ABSTRACT A bender actuated by a cable jack is disclosed for CL 72/292; 72/369; 72/457; bending the free end of fence metal top rail that is al- 72/705 ready supported on at least two supports or posts. The [5 2 v i free end of the fence top rail can be bent to [he exagt Field of Search 72/292, 369, 305, 459. amount desired and in the desired place from the last 72/705, 389, 458. 45 388 supporting post to the next post in position, and which will at the same time maintain the bent free end in the References cued desired or same plane with the preceding portions of UNITED STATES PATENTS the top rail. Once in position. this bender is self- 2x6.s93 6/1942 Bt IiSSUU 72/369 Supporting the which is pflrtiwlarly (mir- 2 347593 4/1944 Cummings 72/388 uble when installing high fences from a ladder. 7 456.468 7/1969 Crippen 4 72/388 7 492.11ss 2/19711 Wylie 72/705 10 Clams 5 Drawmg Flgul'es IN SITU FENCE TOP RAIL FREE END BENDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Formerly. the fence installer had to remove the fence top rail several times in providing a proper radius or angle to the fence rail. and doing so makes it difficult. or sometimes impossible. to finally bend the fence top rail at just the desired angle so that the fence may be located exactly as desired. This is even more difficult when a high fence is involved. such as when a ladder must be used to reach its top.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a fence top rail bender that may be supported on the fence and which. when used. will bend the extending free end of the top rail to the exact desired radius without the necessity of removing the top rail from the fence line post loop caps.

A further object of this invention is to provide a comparatively inexpensive fence rail bender that is easy to operate and easy to keep in repair. that is used in cooperation with a conventional cable jack for progressively pulling the extending free end of the top rail to just the desired radius or bend in a single continuous operation while already installed. in part. on at least two supports.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a fence rail free end bender that will bend the rail free end just the desired amount while in position and also will maintain the bent end in the desired same horizontal plane with the rail portions already supported on and between the posts.

A further object ofthis invention is to provide a fence rail end bender that may readily be used on high fences and easily operated from a high ladder because the bender is self-supporting on the fence rail. once it is in position.

Still a further object of this snvention is that it may be used in situ on a fence top rail and thus is a desired improvement over prior art pipe benders. such as shown in US. Pat. Nos. 630.848; 907.210; 1.247.728; 2.555.723.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES With the above and other objects in view. this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts. as will be more fully understood from the following description. when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of the bender ofthis invention. self-supported in operative position on a fence top.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is a detail side view of the hinged ends of the abutment and supporting pipes. on line 3-3 of FIG. I.

FIG. 4 is a detail side view of abutting end of the abutment pipe and rail on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a detail top view of the supporting pipe Y- shaped guide and line post on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION There is shown at I0 the in situ fence top rail free end bender of this invention. This bender I0 serves the purpose of bending a fence rail extending free end I2 to the exact desired radius and proper angle to the fence rail 14 already supported in position through line post loop caps 16 and 18 on line posts 20 and 22. and also maintains the bending free end in a horizontal or desired plane.

This bender includes a longitudinal abutment pipe member 24 having an abutment and surface 26 somewhat complementary to the surface of the fence pipe 14. Extending from the top of pipe 24 at its abutting end 26 is a supporting hook 28 to extend over rail 14 closely adjacent line post and cap I6, this hook being somewhat complementary to the circumference of the fence rail I4. At the other end of abutment pipe 24. an anchor ring 30 extends in a horizontal plane thereto for attaching a hook 54 and chain 48 thereto.

Extending in a substantially vertical plane below abutment pipe 24 is supporting pipe 32 hinged thereto near its non-abutting ring end 30 by a U-shaped bracket 34 and a pivot pin 36 extending through the bracket and the end of supporting pipe 32. The pin 36 may be a bolt and nut if desired. Extending from the opposite end ofsupporting pipe 32 is a Y-shaped guide 38 adjust-ably held against the fence line post 20 by an adjustable chain 40 secured to the top of supporting pipe 32 by a half ring 42 welded thereto near the Y- guide end thereof. The top end ofchain 40 is adjustably attached by a snap hook 44 secured to a half ring 46 welded to the bottom of abutment pipe 24 but spaced from its abutting end 26.

Secured to the ring 30 on the end of abutment pipe 24 is a chain 48 which ends in a hook 50. the hook end of chain 48 being looped about fence rail 14 and hooked over itself. The length of chain 48 is such that when hooked over rail I4 it extends a short distance as shown from line post 20 toward line post 22. This completes the description of all novel elements of this bender III.

This bender I0 woeks in cooperation with a conventional cable jack 52 having a hook 54. A jack cable 56 arranged to be reeled into the jack 52 extends through jack cable guide finger 58 and ends in a cable hook 60. the hook end of cable 56 being looped about the rail free end I2 and hooked over itself at a point distance from the adjacent line post 20 about two or three times the distance of chain hook on rail 14 from the same line post 20 on the opposite side thereof.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION The rail free end bender I0 is placed in position with the abutting end 26 of abutment pipe 24 against rail 14 closely adjacent the line post 20 but on the side toward the other rail supporting line post 22. The rail 14 extends through the post loop caps 18 and I6 to the extending free end I2. The supporting pipe 32. hinged thereto by bracket 34 and pivot 36, has its Y-shaped guide 38 rest against line post 20. being adjustably supported in position by the adjustable chain 40. Chain 48 is looped over fence rail I4 between the abutted end of abutment pipe 24 and a short distance toward line post 20. the length of chain 48 limiting such distance. Then. the cable jack 52 is hooked on ring 30 and its cable 56 is drawn out and looped over the rail free end 12 a distance from the line post 20 about two or 3 times the distance of chain book 50 about fence rail [4 between the two line posts 22 and 20. Then. operating the cable jack 54 by its jack handle 62 will draw in the fence rail free end I2 as much as desired to provide the desired angle to the fence line post 20. meantime maintaining the bent free end 12 in a desired plane. because the abutment pipe 24 is supported in this desired plane by supporting pipe 32 and its Y-shaped guide against line post 20 and its adjusted chain 40. Then. a line post loop cap is slid over the then extending free end and secured to the next positioned line post in the conventional manner. and the process is repeated as necessary.

ELEMENTS OF THE DRAWING ln the drawing. like numbers refer to like parts. and for the purpose of explication. set forth below are the numbered parts of the improved in situ fence top rail free end bender of this intention ShtWHi in HUS ltl Fence top rail e\tending free end bender l. 2 l1 Extending free end of top rail l4 2 l4 Fence top rail betueen line posts 1, 2 lb l.nie post loop cap on post Ill adjacent lice end I: l, 2 18 Late post loop cap on post 1: remote from free end ll l 2 I'll l.|nc post .id acent free end I: l. I. 22 Line post remote from free end I: Z 3-1 longitudinal abutment pipe member 1 2. 3. 4 In Abulting end i 2. 4 2V4 Supporting hook e\tending from top abutting end It l. I -l 1) Anchor ring on nonabutting end of abutment pipe 14 l. 2. f 3: longitudinal supporting pipe l. I. 3. 5 4 L shaped hinge bracket on anchor ring end of abutment pipe Z-l l. I 3 h P|\ot pin through bracket 34 and hinged end of supporting pipe 3] iii shaped guide means on end of 32 l 5 4t) td nslable chain bctueen end of pipes 24 and 31 I. 4 42 -\nc|ior half ring on 33 1.5 44 Snap hook for -l(l j 4 4h Anchor half ring bottom ol :4 1.4 48 ('hain secured on ring 3!) l. 1 5t) Hook on chain 4N l. I 52 (able ack l. I 54- Hook on cable tack 51 tor mounting it on ring ll l 2 5h ('al le of cable tack l I 58 table guide linger on ack 51 l. l ht! Hook end of ack cable 50 l4 2 ti. (able |ack operating handle 1. 2

Although this in\ention has been described in detail. such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting. since the lllYClltlUt] may be variously em bodied.

Having thus set forth the nature of this inventiom what is claimed is:

I. For use in bending the extending free end (12) of a fence top metal rail 14) supported in position on two fence posts (20. 22) and ha\ing the free end (12) extending beyond one (20) of said supporting posts. a fence top rail free end bender comprising a longitudinal abutment member (24) having one end surface (26) to be abutted against the surface of the rail (l4) between the two supporting posts (20. 22) and closely adjacent that post from which the free end (l2) extends. a hook (28) extending from said abutting end (26) of said abutment member (24) to be extended over the top rail (l4) in the abuttmcnt end (26) supporting position. a longitudinal supporting member (32) for supporting said abutment member (24) in a desired plane. means (34. 36) hingedly securing one (ill end of said longitudinal supporting member (32) to said abutment member (24) adjacent its non-abutting end, a post cooperating guide means (38) mounted on the other end of said longitudinal supporting member (32). means supporting said guide means end of said longitudinal supporting member (32) on said longitudinal abutment member adjacent its abutting end (26) a flexible member (48) secured at one end to said nonabutting end of said abutment member (24) and provided at its free end with a book to be looped about the fence rail (14) between the abutment member (24) abutting area and the remote post (22) and hooked over itself. in cooperation with a cable jack (52) secured to the non-abutting end of said abutment member (24) and at its other end to the extending free end (12) of the top rail (14) a distance from the adjacent post (20) substantially greater than the distance of the looped flexible member book (50) from the other side of said adjacent post (20) therebetween, whereby pulling operation of said Cable jack (52) will pull and bend the free end (12) of said top rail ([4) on a radius at its adjacent post (20) in said desired plane.

2. The bender of claim 1. said abutting end surface (26) of said abutment member (24) being somewhat complementary to the fence rail (14) surface.

3. The bender of claim 1. said abutment hook (28) being somewhat complementary to the fence rail (14] surface 4. The bender of claim I. said hinge securing means comprising a U-shaped bracket extending over the nonabutting end of said abutment member (24] and pin pi\ot means (36) extending through said bracket (34) and said hinged end of said longitudinal supporting member (32).

5. The bender of claim I, said flexible member being a link chain (48).

6. The bender of claim 1. said means supporting said guide means (38) end of said longitudinal supporting member (32) on the abutting end (26) of said longitudinal abutment member (24) comprising a chain (40) secured to said longitudinal abutment member (24) and to said longitudinal supporting member (32).

7. The bender of claim 6, and chain (40) length adjusting means comprising a book (44) secured to one said longitudinal member (24) said chain (40) being secured to the other said longitudinal member (32).

8. The bender of claim 7. and half ring means (42, 4b) welded to each said longitudinal member (24, 32) providing the means for securing said chain to said other longitudinal member (32) and for securing said book (44) to said one longitudinal member (24). said book being a snap hook.

9. The bender of claim 8. and a ring (30) secured on the non-abutting end of said abutment member (24) providing anchor means for attaching said flexible member (48) and the cable jack (52) to said nonabutting end of said abutment member 24.

it). The bender of claim 9, said flexible member being a link chain 48 i. said longitudinal members being pipe members (24. 32 

1. For use in bending the extending free end (12) of a fence top metal rail (14) supported in position on two fence posts (20, 22) and having the free end (12) extending beyond one (20) of said supporting posts; a fence top rail free end bender (10) comprising a longitudinal abutment member (24) having one end surface (26) to be abutted against the surface of the rail (14) between the two supporting posts (20, 22) and closely adjacent that post (20) from which the free end (12) extends, a hook (28) extending from said abutting end (26) of said abutment member (24) to be extended over the top rail (14) in the abuttment end (26) supporting position, a longitudinal supporting member (32) for supporting said abutment member (24) in a desired plane, means (34, 36) hingedly securing one end of said longitudinal supporting member (32) to said abutment member (24) adjacent its non-abutting end, a post cooperating guide means (38) mounted on the other end of said longitudinal supporting member (32), means supporting said guide means end of said longitudinal supporting member (32) on said longitudinal abutment member adjacent its abutting end (26), a flexible member (48) secured at one end to said non-abutting end of said abutment member (24) and provided at its free end with a hook (50) to be looped about the fence rail (14) between the abutment member (24) abutting area and the remote post (22) and hooked over itself, in cooperation with a cable jack (52) secured to the non-abutting end of said abutment member (24) and at its other end to the extending free end (12) of the top rail (14) a distance from the adjacent post (20) substantially greater than the distance of the looped flexible member hook (50) from the other side of said adjacent post (20) therebetween, whereby pulling operation of said cable jack (52) will pull and bend the free end (12) of said top rail (14) on a radius at its adjacent post (20) in said desired plane.
 2. The bender of claim 1, said abutting end surface (26) of said abutment member (24) being somewhat complementary to the fence rail (14) surface.
 3. The bender of claim 1, said abutment hook (28) being somewhat complementary to the fence rail (14) surface.
 4. The bender of claim 1, said hinge securing means comprising a U-shaped bracket extending over the non-abutting end of said abutment member (24) and pin pivot means (36) extending through said bracket (34) and said hinged end of said longitudinal supporting member (32).
 5. The bender of claim 1, said flexible member being a link chain (48).
 6. The bender of claim 1, said means supporting said guide means (38) end of said longitudinal supporting member (32) on the abutting end (26) of said longitudinal abutment member (24) comprising a chain (40) secured to said longitudinal abutment member (24) and to said longitudinal supporting member (32).
 7. The bender of claim 6, and chain (40) length adjusting means comprising a hook (44) secured to one said longitudinal member (24), said chain (40) being secured to the other said longitudinal member (32).
 8. The bender of claim 7, and half ring means (42, 46) welded to each said longitudinal member (24, 32) providing the means for securing said chain to said other longitudinal member (32) and for securing said hook (44) to said one longitudinal member (24), said hook being a snap hook.
 9. The bender of claim 8, and a ring (30) secured on the non-abutting end of said abutment member (24) providing anchor means for attaching said flexible member (48) and the cable jack (52) to said non-abutting end of said abutment member
 24. 10. The bender of claim 9, said flexible member being a link chain 48), said longitudinal members being pipe members (24, 32). 